RALEIGH, N.C. — Carolina Hurricanes coach Kirk Muller says he has not been told by management if he will keep his job.

Muller said Wednesday that "as of right now, I'm head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes."

He says his discussions with general manager Jim Rutherford and vice president of hockey operations Ron Francis have centered on reviewing a season in which Carolina missed the playoffs for a fifth straight year.

Muller is 80-80-27 in three years with the Hurricanes. They went 36-35-11 this season, earning 83 points while finishing 13th in the East. They've missed the playoffs in seven of the eight years since they won the 2006 Stanley Cup.

Owner Peter Karmanos said last week that "I like our coaching staff" and that "I think they've made a lot of progress."

Muller said that he believed in the system that they played and felt that the staff is really starting to grow with the players. The challenge for him, he said, would to better identify players' roles and keep players in them, but noted that the injuries early didn't help.

"I believe that if we come back next year and we are a healthy group, that we have a team that can change things here," said Muller Wednesday. "We showed we could beat all of the top teams in the league this year, the key will be to do it consistently."

Muller said that because the team did not make the playoffs everyone would be evaluated as they try to find ways to improve. The pllayers mirrored the coach's sentiments in their end of season interviews Tuesday.

"I hope there are some players that are not happy and not complacent," Muller said. "If we had 20 or 22 happy guys today, that's not a good sign. We have to keep pushing everybody, making everyone accountable. The pressure and accountability should come from within our group."

areyououtofyourmindApr 21, 2014

That's insane. This isn't a problem with paying for talent any longer, it's a problem of evaluation and putting a team together.

Steven CouslerApr 21, 2014

The coach is always the easy target when a season fails to live up to expectations. After the first week of the season the Hurricanes looked just plain bad the rest of the way. No power play all season long, spotty off and on again goal tending and really just an anemic offensive attack. They just don't have the right people on the ice and need to replace at least 6 or more players with quality ones next season. Invest some money on this club or risk losing fan interest. I watched fewer 'canes games this season than since 10 years ago, and I am about to turn them off permanently if they don't improve -sick of watching them play so badly.

wlcat609Apr 18, 2014

And if you really want to look or take the time to check things out, WHY DO YOU THINK THE PRESENT CANES TEAM LEFT HARTFORD - it is the SAME STUFF that you are reading and commenting on here now!!!!! Where do you think the Canes will go from here? And how soon? It is YOUR MONEY they are after!

OhprahApr 18, 2014

View quoted thread

I am tired of the excuses made for the team and it's coaches. All you have to do is watch a playoff game to see how bad our team was playing. Youth does not mean good! Coach Muller had his chance, him and the ex-devil's staff along with Jim Rutherford need to go. We are not picking winners or coaching winners. It is obvious to us fans the Canes are not playing up to past Canes teams and you can't expect us to pay for a season ticket to watch boys figure skate. Quit buying tickets and the changes will be dramatic and swift!

— Posted by pumba1960

That is true. As long as you keep buying it they will keep selling it.Our leftovers from 2006 know there is no way this team will ever win a cup again so they don't even try. The team would be better off and they would be better off if they had a fresh start on another team. I know I won't renew my season tickets to see that half-hearted play.

Scott WilsonApr 18, 2014

I am tired of the excuses made for the team and it's coaches. All you have to do is watch a playoff game to see how bad our team was playing. Youth does not mean good! Coach Muller had his chance, him and the ex-devil's staff along with Jim Rutherford need to go. We are not picking winners or coaching winners. It is obvious to us fans the Canes are not playing up to past Canes teams and you can't expect us to pay for a season ticket to watch boys figure skate. Quit buying tickets and the changes will be dramatic and swift!

wlcat609Apr 17, 2014

Can the Canes get Patrick Roy - he did an outstanding coaching job this seasonwith injuries to his top line players AND HIS TEAM STILL MADE THE PLAYOFFS as well!

JPackApr 17, 2014

I would tell everyone that despite what WRAL is reporting, JR has not officially announced when or even if he is stepping back. He is also careful to use the words "stepping back", not stepping down. Don't get your hopes up just yet. It is inevitable, however the timing is in question.Don't know how I feel about Muller not being the coach anymore. He certainly has not been effective, however, I question how much control he was truly given over this team.

Jeanne GunnApr 17, 2014

View quoted thread

I am excited to get a new GM in here to objectively evaluate our current talent. Too often Rutherford let his ego and personal relationships with certain players to make the necessary moves to help the team. I would like to keep Muller but make some roster moves that may be unpopular with fans at first. I'm not going to pay 80-bucks to see that team play as it stands.

But remember what old man-Karmanos said, "The fans aren't being as patient as they should be with this team." With that attitude, it's our fault, and I'm not optimistic about the right decisions being made to build this team back to competitiveness. It will be an interesting summer, certainly make-or-break from one fan's point of view.

— Posted by fuzzter1

I hear ya, and I like Muller as well, but there seems to be a problem with him and some of the veteran players. I wouldn't mind seeing some of those veteran players out the door, i.e. Cam, but I do question whether Muller is demanding some players play a style they aren't capable of. As much as I like him, I don't know if keeping Muller is the right decision to get the Canes back on track.

ericevensonApr 17, 2014

Muller is a good man/coach/ex player and should be kept as coach. We can win it all with him and the coaches we have. The goal tending was porous at times, but Peters and Khudobin put the team back on the winning track. It looks like we need a Glen Wesley type defenseman, and a couple of scoring front liners. Just my amateur opinion.